007

Math is All You Need

007 Writing Project

The following group project is to be worked on by no more than four students. You may use any materials you think may be useful in solving the problems but you may not ask anyone for help other than the people you have chosen to work with. This means you may not ask a tutor or any person other than those in your immediate group for help.

You are to type a letter of response to the problem presented backing up your conclusions with mathematical reasoning, formulas, and solutions. Your grade will depend on how well you communicate your response as well as the accuracy of the conclusions. This project will be scored using the rubric on the last page of this document.

Please sign and date here to indicate that you have read and agree to abide by the above mentioned stipulations.

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Student Name #1Date

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Student Name #2Date

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Student Name #3Date

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Student Name #4Date

April 2nd, 2001

James Bond Research Laboratories

3.14159 Mean Street

London, England 12345

MAT 221 Students

Chandler-Gilbert Community College

2626 East Pecos Road

Chandler, AZ 85225

Dear Calculus Creators:

As you well know I am the head of 007’s Research Laboratory for weapons of mass destruction. Currently, I am faced with a serious situation in which I desperately need your help. I recently discovered a formula for producing a new gas which, if put into the wrong hands, would have disastrous results. The gas, when inhaled, gives a human the ability to float and maneuver about in the air as if flying. By just inhaling a small mount, 007 would be able to escape an enemy if caught in a desperate situation. Dubbed FIG-MH (Fully Inhalable Gas for Maneuvering Humans) by my research team, the gas needs to be stored in multiple containers for different purposes. Your enterprising and resourceful professor has indicated that, due to your vast experience in these matters, you will be able to provide valuable assistance.

My research team has determined that the best method for storing the FIG-MH should be modeled after the tanks used by the Mesaba Oil and Propane Company in Coleraine, Minnesota (see picture below).

Not only is the design efficient, it will also serve to disguise this valuable commodity. We will use the general shape used by Mesaba…a large cylinder. Your first task is to determine the most efficient way to construct the main storage tank. One interesting characteristic of FIG-MH is that it explodes if more than 7200 cubic feet are contained in one unit. Therefore, we wish to construct a tank, like the one in the picture (assume that the end caps are flat), so that it is as large as we dare make it (you decide if you should allow some margin for error), but as inexpensive as possible. Here are the costs involved:

  • The metal for the sides that is used costs $20.00 per square foot
  • The metal used for the two end caps cost $35.00 per square foot
  • Since the metal to construct the cylinder comes in 5 pieces (two end caps and three tubes), the pieces must be welded together at a cost of $1.50 per foot (including labor)

As with Mesaba Oil, we will need tanks of similar shape, but smaller volume for a variety of purposes. In fact, we will need to construct a tank small enough for 007 to carry in his pocket for quick access. So, please provide a formula for the dimensions of the general tank of cheapest cost.

Be sure to make your report convincing and thorough since it is so difficulty to get money out of the purchasing department! At least, you should include:

  • The symbolic mathematics performed
  • A verbal explanation of the mathematics performed
  • Graphs to further explain the mathematics
  • Numerical data for further proof

As you know, if any of this information gets into enemy hands or in the unlikely event that you are taken prisoner, you are to disavow any contact with our office and knowledge of this project. I appreciate your prompt response and look forward to your correspondence. It is imperative that I have your report by high noon (or 1:15 pm is close enough!) on April 10th!

I am confident in your ability to perform this important task. Where would we be without you?

God save the Queen!

Q

P.S. A note from your enterprising and resourceful professor: When generalizing, treat the volume as a constant, V, and find the minimum cost for this general volume tank. You will want to use Mathcad as a tool for solving. Just be sure to clearly explain the output from Mathcad.

Checklist for Your Writing Project

Directions:

  • Please attach this page with a paper-clip to your writing assignment when you turn it

in.

  • This list will be used to grade your assignment, and will be returned to you with

comments.

  • Please feel free to use this checklist as a guide for yourself while writing the

assignment.

Does this paper:

  1. Clearly summarize the problem to be solved?
  2. Provide a paragraph which explains how the problem will be approached?
  3. State the answer in a few complete sentences which stand on their own?
  4. Give a precise and well-organized explanation of how the answer was found,

including:

  • algebraic support
  • graphical support
  • numerical support

as appropriate?

  1. Clearly label diagrams, tables, graphs, or other visual representations of the

math?

  1. Define all variables, terminology, and notation used?
  2. Clearly state the assumptions which underlie the formulas and theorems, and

explain how each formula or theorem is derived, or where it can be found?

  1. Give acknowledgment where it is due?
  2. Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation?
  3. Contain correct mathematics?
  4. Solve the problem(s) that were originally asked?

Instructor Comments:

Your group’s score out of 50 points is ______.

The name is Bond…James Bond

Scott Adamson and Trey Cox ©2000